Runkle Canyon Update

• E-mail to Environmental Protection Agency (dated September 26, 2006)
• Letter to California Department of Health Services (dated September 27, 2006)
• Letter to California Department of Toxic Substances Control (dated October 9, 2006)
• Letter to California Department of Health Services in response to their November 8, 2006 Letter and Report (dated November 21, 2006)
• Letter to California Department of Health Services transmitting questions prepared by Simi Valley residents with regard to Runkle Canyon (dated March 1, 2007)

Responses to the City's requests appear below:

• Response from California Department of Health Services to the City's Letter of 9/27/06 (dated October 27, 2006)
• Response from Department of Toxic Substances Control to City's Letter of 10/9/06 (dated November 6, 2006)
• Response from Environmental Protection Agency to City's E-mail of 9/26/06 (dated November 15, 2006)
• Letter and Report from California Department of Health Services, titled "Airborne Sr-90 Hazard at Runkle Canyon Site" (dated November 8, 2006)
• Response from California Department of Health Services to the City's Letter of 11/21/06 (dated November 30, 2006)
• Response from California Department of Health Services to the City's Letter of 3/1/07 (dated April 10, 2007)

On Tuesday, March 13, 2007, City Council Members and City staff met with representatives of Senator Dianne Feinstein's Office in Washington, D.C. to seek her assistance in requesting that the United States Environmental Protection Agency review the environmental data for the project.  As a result of that meeting, the following request was sent to Senator Feinstein's Office:

• Letter to U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein's Office (dated March 28, 2007)

On July 2, 2007, two surface water samples and one soil sample were taken at Runkle Canyon and analyzed for concentrations of Title 22 metals.  The test results were evaluated by Tetra Tech, Inc., an environmental consultant retained by the City of Simi Valley to observe the sampling event, evaluate the analytical data, and report on its findings.  The following link presents that report:

• Laboratory Analytical Results for Surface Water and Surface Soil Samples Collected from the Proposed Runkle Canyon Development, July 2, 2007 (report prepared by Tetra Tech, Inc. dated August 14, 2007)

In the Fall, 2007, the City requested Larry Walker Associates and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), respectively, to review Tetra Tech's report and advise regarding public health risk:

• Letter to Larry Walker Associates (dated September 20, 2007)
• Letters to DTSC (dated October 18, 2007 and dated November 7, 2007)

Responses to these requests appear below:

• Report from Larry Walker Associates (dated October 30, 2007)
• Letters from DTSC (dated November 8, 2007 and dated November 30, 2007)

On April 23, 2008, DTSC and KB Homes/Runkle Canyon, LLC entered into an agreement for DTSC to review documents regarding the assessment and/or remediation of the Runkle Canyon area.

DTSC completed their review of 41 documents, reports, and letters regarding environmental investigations completed in the Runkle Canyon area between 1999 and 2007 and responded with a letter dated October 17, 2008.  The letter comments on the documents reviewed and recommends additional work needed to complete an assessment of the conditions at Runkle Canyon.

Questions regarding the status of the Runkle Canyon project may be directed to Assistant City Manager Laura Behjan at lbehjan@simivalley.org or (805) 583-6701.